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Official Journal of the European Union
15.3.2014
REGULATION (EU) No 233/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 11 March 2014
establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation for the period 2014-2020
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
Union, and in particular Articles 209(1) and 212(2) thereof,
(4)
Over time, Union assistance should contribute to redu­
cing aid dependence.
(5)
The Union's action on the international scene is to be
guided by the principles which have inspired its own
creation, development and enlargement, and which it
seeks to advance in the wider world, namely democracy,
the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of
human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for
human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity
and respect for the principles of the United Nations
Charter and international law. The Union is to seek to
develop and consolidate commitment to those principles
in partner countries, territories and regions through
dialogue and cooperation. In pursuing those principles,
the Union proves its added value as an actor in develop­
ment policies.
(6)
In implementing this Regulation, and in particular during
the programming process, the Union should have due
regard to the priorities, objectives and benchmarks in
human rights and democracy established by the Union
for partner countries, in particular its human rights
country strategies.
(7)
Respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, the
promotion of the rule of law, democratic principles,
transparency, good governance, peace and stability and
gender equality are essential for the development of
partner countries, and those issues should be main­
streamed in the Union's development policy, particularly
in programming and in agreements with partner coun­
tries.
(8)
Aid effectiveness, greater transparency, cooperation and
complementarity and better harmonisation, alignment
with partner countries, as well as coordination of proce­
dures, both between the Union and the Member States
and in relations with other donors and development
actors, are essential for ensuring the consistency and rele­
vance of aid whilst at the same time reducing the costs
borne by partner countries. Through its development
policy, the Union is committed to implementing the
conclusions of the Declaration on Aid Effectiveness
adopted by the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness,
held in Paris on 2 March 2005, the Accra Agenda for
Action adopted on 4 September 2008 and their follow­
up Declaration adopted in Busan on 1 December 2011.
Those commitments have led to a number of conclusions
of the Council and of the Representatives of the Govern­
ments of the Member States meeting within the Council,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national
parliaments,
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the
Regions (1),
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure ( 2),
Whereas:
(1)
This Regulation forms part of the Union's development
cooperation policy and constitutes one of the instru­
ments providing support for the Union's external poli­
cies. It replaces Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 of the
European Parliament and of the Council (3), which
expired on 31 December 2013.
(2)
The fight against poverty remains the primary objective
of the development policy of the Union, as laid down in
Title V, Chapter 1 of the Treaty on European Union
(TEU) and Title III, Chapter 1 of Part Five of the Treaty
on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), in
line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
and other internationally agreed development commit­
ments and objectives approved by the Union and by the
Member States in the context of the United Nations (UN)
and other competent international fora.
(3)
The joint statement by the Council and the representa­
tives of the governments of the Member States meeting
within the Council, the European Parliament and the
Commission on European Union Development Policy:
‘The European Consensus’ (4) (the ‘European Consensus’),
and agreed modifications thereto, provides the general
policy framework, the orientations and the focus to guide
the implementation of this Regulation.
(1) OJ C 391, 18.12.2012, p. 110.
(2) Position of the European Parliament of 11 December 2013 (not yet
published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of
11 March 2014.
(3) Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 18 December 2006 establishing a financing instrument for
development cooperation (OJ L 378, 27.12.2006, p. 41).
4
( ) OJ C 46, 24.2.2006, p. 1.
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Official Journal of the European Union
such as the EU Code of Conduct on Complementarity
and Division of Labour in Development Policy and the
Operational Framework on Aid Effectiveness. Efforts and
procedures for achieving joint programming should be
reinforced.
(9)
Union assistance should support the Joint Africa-EU
Strategy, adopted at the EU-Africa Summit on
8-9 December 2007 in Lisbon and subsequent modifica­
tions and additions thereto, based on the shared vision,
principles and objectives underpinning the Africa-EU
Strategic Partnership.
(10)
The Union and the Member States should improve the
consistency, coordination and complementarity of their
respective policies on development cooperation, in par­
ticular by responding to partner countries' and regions'
priorities at country and at regional level. To ensure that
the Union's development cooperation policy and that of
the Member States complement and reinforce each other,
and to ensure cost-effective aid delivery while avoiding
overlaps and gaps, it is both urgent and appropriate to
provide for joint programming procedures which should
be implemented whenever possible and relevant.
(11)
The Union's policy and international action for develop­
ment cooperation are guided by the MDGs such as the
eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, including any
subsequent modifications thereto, and by the develop­
ment objectives, principles and commitments approved
by the Union and the Member States, including in the
context of their cooperation within the UN and other
competent international fora in the field of development
cooperation. The Union's policy and international action
are also guided by its commitments and obligations
concerning human rights and development, including the
Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimi­
nation against Women, the UN Convention on the Rights
of the Child, and the UN Declaration on the Right
to Development.
(12)
The Union is strongly committed to gender equality as a
human right, a question of social justice and a core value
of the Union's development policy. Gender equality is
central to the achievement of all MDGs. On 14 June 2010,
the Council endorsed the EU Plan of Action 2010-2015
on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in
Development.
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(13)
The Union should, as a matter of high priority, promote
a comprehensive approach in response to crisis and
disaster and to conflict-affected and fragile situations,
including those of transition and post-crisis. This should,
in particular, build on the Council conclusions
of 19 November 2007 on an EU response to situations
of fragility and the conclusions of the Council and the
Representatives of the Governments of the Member States
meeting within the Council, also dated 19 November 2007,
on security and development, as well as build on the
Council conclusions of 20 June 2011 on conflict preven­
tion, as well as any relevant subsequent conclusions.
(14)
Particularly in those situations where needs are most
urgent and poverty both most widespread and deepest,
Union support should be geared at strengthening the
resilience of countries and their populations to adverse
events. That should be done through the appropriate mix
of approaches, responses and instruments, in particular
by ensuring that the security-oriented, humanitarian and
development approaches are balanced, consistent and
effectively coordinated, thereby linking relief, rehabilita­
tion and development.
(15)
Union assistance should focus on where it has more
impact, having regard to its capacity to act on a global
scale and to respond to global challenges such as poverty
eradication, sustainable and inclusive development and
worldwide promotion of democracy, good governance,
human rights and the rule of law, its long-term and
predictable commitment to development assistance and
its role in coordinating with the Member States. To
ensure such impact, the principle of differentiation
should be applied, not only at the level of fund alloca­
tion, but also at the level of programming, to ensure that
bilateral development cooperation targets partner coun­
tries most in need, including fragile States and States
with high vulnerability, and with limited capacity to
access other sources of financing to support their own
development. The Union should engage in new partner­
ships with countries that graduate from bilateral aid
programmes, notably on the basis of regional and
thematic programmes under this instrument and other
thematic Union instruments for financing external action,
in particular the Partnership Instrument for cooperation
with third countries as established by Regulation (EU)
No 234/2014 of the European Parliament and of the
Council (1) (the ‘Partnership Instrument’).
(1) Regulation (EU) No 234/2014 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a Partnership Instrument for
cooperation with third countries (see page 77 of this Official Journal).
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(16)
(17)
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The Union should seek the most efficient use of available
resources in order to optimise the impact of its external
action. That should be achieved through a comprehensive
approach for each country based on coherence and
complementarity between the Union's instruments for
external action, as well as the creation of synergies
between this instrument, other Union instruments for
financing external action and other policies of the Union.
This should further entail mutual reinforcement of the
programmes devised under the instruments for financing
external action. While striving for overall consistency of
the Union's external action in accordance with Article 21
TEU, the Union is to ensure policy coherence for devel­
opment as required by Article 208 TFEU.
While respecting the principle of policy coherence for
development, this Regulation should allow for enhanced
consistency between Union policies. It should also enable
full alignment with partner countries and regions by
using, where possible, as the basis for the programming
of the Union's action, national development plans or
similar comprehensive development documents, adopted
with the involvement of national and regional bodies
concerned. It should furthermore pursue better coordina­
tion amongst donors, in particular between the Union
and the Member States, through joint programming.
(18)
In a globalised world, different internal Union policies
such as environment, climate change, promotion of
renewable energies, employment (including decent work
for all), gender equality, energy, water, transport, health,
education, justice and security, culture, research and inno­
vation, information society, migration and agriculture
and fisheries are increasingly becoming part of the
Union's external action.
(19)
A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, i.e.
involving growth patterns that enhance social, economic
and territorial cohesion and enable the poor to increase
their contribution to, and benefit from, national wealth,
underlines the commitment of the Union to promote, in
its internal and external policies, smart, inclusive and
sustainable growth bringing together three pillars:
economic, social and environmental.
(20)
Fighting climate change and protecting the environment
are among the great challenges which the Union and
developing countries are facing, and where the need for
national and international action is urgent. This Regu­
15.3.2014
lation should therefore contribute to the objective of
addressing at least 20 % of the Union budget to a low
carbon and climate resilient society, and the ‘Global
Public Goods and Challenges’ programme provided for in
this Regulation should use at least 25 % of its funds to
cover climate change and environment. Actions in those
areas should, wherever possible, be mutually supportive
in order to reinforce their impact.
(21)
This Regulation should enable the Union to contribute to
fulfilling the joint Union commitment of providing
continued support for human development to improve
peoples' lives. To contribute to that end, at least 25 % of
the ‘Global Public Goods and Challenges’ programme
should support that area of development.
(22)
At least 20 % of the assistance under this Regulation
should be allocated to basic social services, with a focus
on health and education, as well as to secondary educa­
tion, recognising that a degree of flexibility must be the
norm such as in cases where exceptional assistance is
involved. Data concerning compliance with that require­
ment should be included in the annual report referred to
in Regulation (EU) No 236/2014 of the European Parlia­
ment and of the Council (1).
(23)
In the UN Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least
Developed Countries for the Decade 2011–2020, least
developed countries committed to integrate trade and
trade capacity-building policies into their national devel­
opment strategies. Furthermore, at the World Trade Orga­
nisation 8th Ministerial Conference held in Geneva
on 15-17 December 2011, ministers agreed to maintain,
beyond 2011, Aid for Trade levels that at least reflect the
average of the period 2006-2008. Better and more
targeted Aid for Trade and trade facilitation must accom­
pany those efforts.
(24)
While thematic programmes should primarily support
developing countries, some beneficiary countries as well
as the overseas countries and territories (OCTs) the char­
acteristics of which do not satisfy the requirements
allowing them to be defined as Official Development
Assistance (‘ODA’) recipients by the Development Assis­
tance Committee of the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development (‘OECD/DAC’) but which
are covered by point (b) of Article 1(1) should also be
eligible for thematic programmes subject to the condi­
tions laid down in this Regulation.
(1) Regulation (EU) No 236/2014 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 11 March 2014 laying down common rules and procedures
for the implementation of the Union's instruments for financing
external action (see page 95 of this Official Journal).
15.3.2014
(25)
(26)
(27)
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Official Journal of the European Union
The details of areas of cooperation and adjustments of
financial allocations per geographic area and area of
cooperation constitute non-essential elements of this
Regulation. Consequently, the power to adopt acts in
accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to
the Commission for updating the elements of the
Annexes to this Regulation which set out the details of
the areas of cooperation under geographic and thematic
programmes and the indicative financial allocations per
geographic area and area of cooperation. It is of particu­
lar importance that the Commission carry out appro­
priate consultations during its preparatory work,
including at expert level. The Commission, when
preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure a
simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of
relevant documents to the European Parliament and to
the Council.
In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implemen­
tation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be
conferred on the Commission with regard to the strategy
papers and multiannual indicative programmes referred
to in this Regulation. Those powers should be exercised
in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the
European Parliament and of the Council (1).
Given the nature of such implementing acts, in particular
their policy orientation nature and their budgetary impli­
cations, the examination procedure should in principle be
used for their adoption, except in the case of measures of
a small financial scale.
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Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accord­
ance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in
Article 5 TEU. In accordance with the principle of
proportionality as set out in that Article, this Regulation
does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve
those objectives.
(32)
This Regulation lays down a financial envelope for its
period of application which is to constitute the prime
reference amount, within the meaning of point 17 of the
Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013
between the European Parliament, the Council and the
Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in
budgetary matters and on sound financial manage­
ment (3), for the European Parliament and the Council
during the annual budgetary procedure.
(33)
It is appropriate to align the period of application of this
Regulation with that of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom)
No 1311/2013 (4). Therefore, this Regulation should
apply from 1 January 2014 until 31 December 2020,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
TITLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
(28)
(29)
(30)
(31)
The Commission should adopt immediately applicable
implementing acts where, in duly justified cases relating
to the need for a swift response from the Union, impera­
tive grounds of urgency so require.
Common rules and procedures for the implementation of
the Union's instruments for financing external action are
laid down in Regulation (EU) No 236/2014.
The organisation and functioning of the European
External Action Service are established in Council Deci­
sion 2010/427/EU (2).
Since the objectives of this Regulation cannot be suffi­
ciently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by
reason of the scale of the action, be better achieved at
(1) Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general princi­
ples concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the
Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011,
p. 13).
(2) Council Decision 2010/427/EU of 26 July 2010 establishing the orga­
nisation and functioning of the European External Action Service
(OJ L 201, 3.8.2010, p. 30).
Article 1
Subject-matter and scope
1. This Regulation establishes an instrument (the ‘Develop­
ment Cooperation Instrument’ or ‘DCI’) under which the Union
may finance:
(a) geographic programmes aimed at supporting development
cooperation with developing countries that are included in
the list of recipients of ODA established by the OECD/DAC,
except for:
(i) countries that are signatories to the Partnership Agree­
ment between the members of the African, Caribbean
and Pacific Group of States of the one part, and the
European Community and its Member States, of the
other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (5),
excluding South Africa;
(ii) countries eligible for the European Development Fund;
(3) OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1.
(4) Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December
2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years
2014-2020 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 884).
5
( ) OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 3.
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Official Journal of the European Union
EN
(iii) countries eligible for Union funding under the Euro­
pean Neighbourhood Instrument established by Regu­
lation (EU) No 232/2014 of the European Parliament
and of the Council (1) (the ‘European Neighbour­
hood Instrument’);
(iv) beneficiaries eligible for Union funding under the
Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance established by
Regulation (EU) No 231/2014 of the European Parlia­
ment and of the Council (2) (the ‘Instrument for Pre­
accession Assistance’).
(b) thematic programmes to address development-related global
public goods and challenges and support civil society orga­
nisations and local authorities in partner countries pursuant
to point (a) of this paragraph, countries eligible for Union
financing under the instruments referred to in points (i)
to (iii) of point (a) of this paragraph, and countries and
territories falling within the scope of Council Deci­
sion 2013/755/EU (3);
(c) a Pan-African programme to support the strategic partner­
ship between Africa and the Union and subsequent modifi­
cations and additions thereto, to cover activities of a trans­
regional, continental or global nature in and with Africa.
2.
For the purposes of this Regulation, a region is a geogra­
phical entity comprising more than one developing country.
3.
The countries and territories referred to in paragraph 1 are
referred to in this Regulation as ‘partner countries’ or ‘partner
regions’ as the case may be under the relevant geographic,
thematic or Pan-African programme.
15.3.2014
(i) fostering sustainable economic, social and environ­
mental development, and
(ii) consolidating and supporting democracy, the rule of
law, good governance, human rights and the relevant
principles of international law.
The achievement of the objectives referred to in the first sub­
paragraph shall be measured using relevant indicators, including
human development indicators, in particular MDG 1 for point
(a) and MDGs 1 to 8 for point (b) and, after 2015, other indica­
tors agreed at international level by the Union and the
Member States.
2. Cooperation under this Regulation shall contribute to the
achievement of the international commitments and objectives in
the field of development that the Union has agreed to, in par­
ticular the MDGs, and post-2015 new development targets.
3. Actions under geographic programmes shall be designed
so as to fulfil the criteria for ODA established by the
OECD/DAC.
Actions under the thematic programmes and the Pan-African
programme shall be designed so as to fulfil the criteria for ODA
established by the OECD/DAC, unless:
(a) the action applies to a beneficiary country or territory that
does not qualify as an ODA recipient country or territory
according to the OECD/DAC; or
Article 2
Objectives and eligibility criteria
1.
Within the framework of the principles and objectives of
the Union's external action and of the European Consensus and
agreed modifications thereto:
(a) the primary objective of cooperation under this Regulation
shall be the reduction and, in the long term, the eradication
of poverty;
(b) consistently with the primary objective referred to in
point (a), cooperation under this Regulation shall contribute
to:
(1) Regulation (EU) No 232/2014 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a European Neighbourhood
Instrument (see page 27 of this Official Journal).
2
( ) Regulation (EU) No 231/2014 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an Instrument for Pre-accession
Assistance (IPA II) (see page 11 of this Official Journal).
(3) Council Decision 2013/755/EU of 25 November 2013 on the associa­
tion of the overseas countries and territories with the European Union
(‘Overseas Association Decision’) (OJ L 344, 19.12.2013, p. 1).
(b) the action implements a global initiative, a Union policy
priority or an international obligation or commitment of
the Union, as referred to in points (b) and (e) of Article 6(2),
and the action does not have the characteristics to fulfil the
criteria for ODA.
4. Without prejudice to point (a) of paragraph 3, at
least 95 % of the expenditure foreseen under the thematic
programmes and at least 90 % of the expenditure foreseen
under the Pan-African programme shall fulfil the criteria for
ODA established by the OECD/DAC.
5. Actions covered by Council Regulation (EC)
No 1257/96 (4) and eligible for funding under that Regulation
shall not be funded under this Regulation, except where there is
a need to ensure continuity of cooperation from crisis to stable
conditions for development. In such cases, special consideration
shall be given to ensuring that humanitarian relief, rehabilitation
and development assistance are effectively linked.
(4) Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning
humanitarian aid (OJ L 163, 2.7.1996, p. 1).
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EN
Article 3
General principles
1.
The Union shall seek to promote, develop and consolidate
the principles of democracy, the rule of law and respect for
human rights and fundamental freedoms on which it is
founded, through dialogue and cooperation with partner coun­
tries and regions.
2.
In the implementation of this Regulation, a differentiated
approach amongst partner countries shall be pursued, in order
to ensure that they are provided with specific, tailor-made coop­
eration based on:
(a) their needs, based on criteria such as population, income
per capita, the extent of poverty, income distribution and
the level of human development;
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minorities, the rights of persons with disabilities, the rights of
persons with life-threatening diseases and of other vulnerable
groups, core labour rights and social inclusion, the empower­
ment of women, the rule of law, capacity building for parlia­
ments and civil society, and the promotion of dialogue, partici­
pation and reconciliation, as well as institution building,
including at local and regional level.
4. In implementing this Regulation, policy coherence for
development and consistency with other areas of Union external
action and with other relevant Union policies shall be ensured,
in accordance with Article 208 TFEU.
In this regard, measures financed under this Regulation,
including those managed by the European Investment Bank
(EIB), shall be based on the development cooperation policies
set out in instruments such as agreements, declarations and
action plans between the Union and the partner countries and
regions concerned, and on the relevant Union decisions, specific
interests, policy priorities and strategies.
(b) their capacities to generate and access financial resources
and on their absorption capacities;
(c) their commitments and performance, based on criteria and
indicators, such as political, economic and social progress,
gender equality, progress in good governance and human
rights, and the effective use of aid, in particular the way a
country uses scarce resources for development, beginning
with its own resources; and
(d) the potential impact of Union assistance in partner coun­
tries.
The countries most in need, in particular the least developed
countries, low income countries and countries in crisis,
post-crisis, fragile and vulnerable situations, shall be given
priority in the resource allocation process.
Criteria such as the Human Development Index, the
Economic Vulnerability Index and other relevant indexes,
including for measuring in-country poverty and inequality,
shall be taken into account in order to underpin the analysis
and identification of the countries most in need.
3.
Throughout all programmes, cross-cutting issues as
defined in the European Consensus shall be mainstreamed. In
addition, conflict prevention, decent work and climate change
shall be mainstreamed, where relevant.
The cross-cutting issues referred to in the first subparagraph
shall be understood to encompass the following dimensions, to
which specific attention shall be given where circumstances so
require: non-discrimination, the rights of persons belonging to
5. The Union and the Member States shall seek regular and
frequent exchanges of information, including with other donors,
and shall promote better donor coordination and complemen­
tarity by working towards joint multiannual programming
based on partner countries' poverty reduction or equivalent
development strategies. They may undertake joint action,
including joint analysis of and joint response to those strategies
identifying priority sectors of intervention and in-country divi­
sion of labour, by means of joint donor-wide missions and by
the use of co-financing and delegated cooperation arrangements.
6. The Union shall promote a multilateral approach to global
challenges and shall cooperate with Member States in that
respect. Where appropriate, it shall foster cooperation with
international organisations and bodies and other bilateral
donors.
7. Relations between the Union and the Member States, on
the one hand, and partner countries, on the other hand, shall be
based on and shall promote the shared values of human rights,
democracy and the rule of law as well as the principles of
ownership and mutual accountability.
Furthermore, relations with partner countries shall take into
account their commitment and track record in implementing
international agreements and contractual relations with
the Union.
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8.
The Union shall promote effective cooperation with
partner countries and regions in line with international best
practice. It shall align its support with their national or regional
development strategies, reform policies and procedures wherever
possible, and support democratic ownership, as well as domestic
and mutual accountability. To that end, it shall promote:
(a) a development process that is transparent and partner
country- or region-led and owned, including the promotion
of local expertise;
(b) a rights-based approach encompassing all human rights,
whether civil and political or economic, social and cultural,
in order to integrate human rights principles in the imple­
mentation of this Regulation, to assist partner countries in
implementing their international human rights obligations
and to support the right holders, with a focus on poor and
vulnerable groups, in claiming their rights;
15.3.2014
donors to create synergies and avoid overlap and duplica­
tion, to improve complementarity and to support donor­
wide initiatives;
(g) coordination in partner countries and regions using agreed
guidelines and best practice principles on coordination and
aid effectiveness;
(h) results-based approaches to development, including through
the use of transparent country-level results frameworks,
based on, where appropriate, internationally agreed targets
and indicators such as those of the MDGs, to assess and
communicate the results, including the outputs, outcomes
and impact of development aid.
9. The Union shall support, as appropriate, the implementa­
tion of bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation and
dialogue, the development dimension of partnership agree­
ments, and triangular cooperation. The Union shall also
promote South-South cooperation.
10. The Commission shall inform and have regular
exchanges of views with the European Parliament.
(c) the empowerment of the population of partner countries,
inclusive and participatory approaches to development and
a broad involvement of all segments of society in the devel­
opment process and in national and regional dialogue,
including political dialogue. Particular attention shall be
given to the respective roles of parliaments, local authorities
and civil society, inter alia regarding participation, oversight
and accountability;
(d) effective cooperation modalities and instruments as set out
in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 236/2014, in line with
OECD/DAC best practices, including the use of innovative
instruments such as blending grants and loans and other
risk-sharing mechanisms in selected sectors and countries
and private-sector engagement, with due regard to the issues
of debt sustainability, the number of such mechanisms, and
the requirement for systematic assessment of the impact in
accordance with the objectives of this Regulation, in particu­
lar poverty reduction.
11. The Commission shall have regular exchanges of infor­
mation with civil society and local authorities.
12. In its development cooperation activities the Union shall,
as appropriate, draw from and share the reform and transition
experiences of Member States and the lessons learned.
13. Union assistance under this Regulation shall not be used
to finance the procurement of arms or ammunition, or opera­
tions having military or defence purposes.
TITLE II
PROGRAMMES
Article 4
All programmes, interventions and cooperation modalities
and instruments shall be adapted to the particular circum­
stances of each partner country or region, with a focus on
programme-based approaches, on the delivery of predictable
aid funding, on the mobilisation of private resources,
including from the local private sector, on universal and
non-discriminatory access to basic services, and on the
development and use of country systems;
Implementation of Union Assistance
Union assistance shall be implemented, in accordance with
Regulation (EU) No 236/2014, through:
(a) geographic programmes;
(e) mobilisation of domestic revenue through the reinforcement
of partner countries' fiscal policy with the purpose of redu­
cing poverty and aid dependence;
(b) thematic programmes, composed of:
(i) a ‘Global Public Goods and Challenges’ programme, and
(ii) a ‘Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities’
programme, and
(f) an improved impact of policies and programming through
coordination, consistency and harmonisation between
(c) a Pan-African programme.
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Article 5
Geographic programmes
1.
Union cooperation activities under this Article shall be
implemented for activities of a national, regional, trans-regional
and continental nature.
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(b) inclusive and sustainable growth for human development:
(i) health, education, social protection, employment and
culture;
(ii) business environment, regional integration and world
markets;
(iii) sustainable agriculture; food and nutrition security;
(iv) sustainable energy;
2.
A geographic programme shall encompass cooperation in
appropriate areas of activity:
(a) regionally with partner countries referred to in point (a) of
Article 1(1), in particular with a view to easing the impact
of graduation in partner countries showing high and
growing inequalities; or
(b) bilaterally:
(i) with partner countries that are not upper middle
income countries on the OECD/DAC list of developing
countries, or do not have a gross domestic product
greater than one per cent of global gross domestic
product;
(ii) in exceptional cases, including with a view to phasing
out development grant aid, bilateral cooperation may
also be undertaken with a limited number of partner
countries when duly justified in accordance with
Article 3(2). Phasing-out shall take place in close coordi­
nation with other donors. Ending that type of coopera­
tion shall, where appropriate, be accompanied by a
policy dialogue with the countries concerned, focusing
on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable
groups.
3.
In order to attain the objectives laid down in Article 2,
geographic programmes shall be drawn from the areas of coop­
eration contained in the European Consensus and subsequent
agreed modifications thereto as well as from the following areas
of cooperation:
(v) natural resources management, including land, forestry
and water;
(vi) climate change and environment;
(c) other areas of significance for development:
(i) migration and asylum;
(ii) linking humanitarian relief and development coopera­
tion;
(iii) resilience and disaster risk reduction;
(iv) development and security, including conflict preven­
tion.
4. Further details of the areas of cooperation referred to in
paragraph 3 are set out in Annex I.
5. Within each bilateral programme, the Union shall, in
principle, concentrate its assistance on a maximum of three
sectors, to be agreed with the partner country concerned
where possible.
Article 6
Thematic programmes
(a) human rights, democracy and good governance:
(i)
human rights, democracy and the rule of law;
(ii) gender equality, empowerment of and equal opportu­
nities for women;
1. Actions undertaken through thematic programmes shall
add value to, and be complementary to and coherent with,
actions funded under geographic programmes.
2. At least one of the following conditions shall apply to the
programming of thematic actions:
(iii) public sector management at central and local level;
(iv) tax policy and administration;
(v) fight against corruption;
(vi) civil society and local authorities;
(vii) the promotion and protection of the rights of children;
(a) Union policy objectives under this Regulation cannot be
achieved in an appropriate or effective manner through
geographic programmes, including, where appropriate,
where there is no geographic programme or where it has
been suspended or where there is no agreement on the
action with the partner country concerned;
(b) the actions address global initiatives supporting internation­
ally agreed development goals or global public goods and
challenges;
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(c) the actions have a multi-regional, multi-country and/or
cross-cutting nature;
Article 9
(d) the actions implement innovative policies or initiatives with
the objective of informing future actions;
Pan-African Programme
(e) the actions reflect a Union policy priority or an interna­
tional obligation or commitment of the Union relevant to
development cooperation.
3.
Unless otherwise provided for in this Regulation, thematic
actions shall directly benefit countries or territories specified in
point (b) of Article 1(1) and shall be carried out in those coun­
tries or territories. Such actions may be carried out outside
those countries or territories when it is the most effective way
of achieving the objectives of the programme concerned.
Article 7
1. The objective of Union assistance under the Pan-African
programme shall be to support the strategic partnership
between Africa and the Union, and subsequent modifications
and additions thereto, to cover activities of a trans-regional,
continental or global nature in and with Africa.
2. The Pan-African programme shall be complementary to
and consistent with other programmes under this Regulation, as
well as other Union's instruments for financing external action,
in particular the European Development Fund and the European
Neighbourhood Instrument.
3. Further details of the areas of cooperation under this
Article are set out in Annex III.
Global Public Goods and Challenges
TITLE III
1.
The objective of Union assistance under the ‘Global Public
Goods and Challenges’ programme shall be to support actions
in areas to be drawn from:
(a) environment and climate change;
(b) sustainable energy;
PROGRAMMING AND ALLOCATION OF FUNDS
Article 10
General framework
(c) human development, including decent work, social justice
and culture;
(d) food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture; and
1. For geographic programmes, multiannual indicative
programmes for partner countries and regions shall be drawn
up on the basis of a strategy document as provided for in
Article 11.
(e) migration and asylum.
2.
Further details of the areas of cooperation referred to in
paragraph 1 are set out in Part A of Annex II.
For thematic programmes, multiannual indicative programmes
shall be drawn up as provided for in Article 13.
The Pan-African multiannual indicative programme shall be
drawn up as provided for in Article 14.
Article 8
Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities
1.
The objective of Union assistance under the ‘Civil Society
Organisations and Local Authorities’ programme shall be to
strengthen civil society organisations and local authorities in
partner countries and, where provided for in this Regulation, in
the Union and in the beneficiaries eligible under Regulation (EU)
No 231/2014.
The actions to be financed shall be primarily carried out by civil
society organisations and local authorities. Where appropriate,
in order to ensure their effectiveness, actions may be carried out
by other actors for the benefit of the civil society organisations
and the local authorities concerned.
2.
Further details of the areas of cooperation under this
Article are set out in Part B of Annex II.
2. The Commission shall adopt the implementing measures
referred to in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 236/2014 on the
basis of the programming documents referred to in Articles 11,
13 and 14 of this Regulation.
3. Union support may also take the form of measures not
covered in the programming documents referred to in Arti­
cles 11, 13 and 14 of this Regulation, as provided for in
Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 236/2014.
4. The Union and the Member States shall consult each other
at an early stage of and throughout the programming process in
order to promote coherence, complementarity and consistency
among their cooperation activities. Such consultation may lead
to joint programming between the Union and the
Member States. The Union shall also consult other donors and
development actors, including representatives of civil society,
local authorities and other implementing bodies. The European
Parliament shall be informed.
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5.
Programming under this Regulation shall have due regard
to human rights and democracy in partner countries.
6.
Funds provided for by this Regulation may be left unallo­
cated in order to ensure an appropriate response of the Union
in the event of unforeseen circumstances, in particular in fragile,
crisis and post-crisis situations, as well as to allow for the
synchronisation with partner countries' strategy cycles and the
modification of indicative financial allocations as a result of the
reviews carried out pursuant to Article 11(5), Article 13(2) and
Article 14(3). Subject to their subsequent allocation or re-alloca­
tion in accordance with the procedures provided for in
Article 15, the use of those funds shall be decided at a later date
in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 236/2014.
local authorities and other parties so as to enhance ownership
of the process and to encourage support for national develop­
ment strategies, particularly for those aimed at reducing poverty.
2. Strategy papers shall be drawn up by the Union for the
partner country or region concerned to provide a coherent
framework for development cooperation between the Union
and that partner country or region, consistent with the overall
purpose and scope, objectives, principles and policy provisions
set out in this Regulation.
3.
The part of funds left unallocated at the level of each type of
programme shall not exceed 5 %, except for the purpose of
synchronisation and for countries referred to in Article 12(1).
7.
Without prejudice to Article 2(3), the Commission may
include a specific financial allocation to assist partner countries
and regions in strengthening their cooperation with neigh­
bouring Union outermost regions.
8.
Any programming or review of programmes taking place
after the publication of the mid-term review report referred to
in Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 236/2014 shall take into
account the results, findings and conclusions of that report.
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No strategy paper shall be required for:
(a) countries having a national development strategy in the
form of a national development plan or a similar develop­
ment document accepted by the Commission as a basis for
the corresponding multiannual indicative programme, at the
time of adoption of the latter document;
(b) countries or regions for which a joint framework document
laying down a comprehensive Union strategy, including a
specific chapter on development policy, has been drawn up;
(c) countries or regions for which a joint multiannual program­
ming document between the Union and Member States has
been agreed;
(d) regions having a jointly agreed strategy with the Union;
Article 11
Programming documents for geographic programmes
1.
The preparation, implementation and review of all
programming documents under this Article shall comply with
the principles of policy coherence for development and those of
aid effectiveness, namely democratic ownership, partnership,
coordination, harmonisation, alignment with partner country or
regional systems, transparency, mutual accountability and results
orientation as laid down in Article 3(4) to (8). Where possible,
the programming period shall be synchronised with partner
country strategy cycles.
Programming documents for geographic programmes, including
joint programming documents, shall be based, to the extent
possible, on a dialogue between the Union, the Member States
and the partner country or region concerned, including national
and regional parliaments, and shall involve civil society and
(e) countries where the Union intends to synchronise its
strategy with a new national cycle starting before 1 January
2017; in such cases the multiannual indicative programme
for the interim period between 1 January 2014 and the
beginning of the new national cycle shall contain the
Union's response for that country;
(f) countries or regions receiving an allocation of Union funds
under this Regulation not exceeding EUR 50 000 000 for
the 2014-2020 period.
In the cases referred to in points (b) and (f) of the first sub­
paragraph, the multiannual indicative programme for the
country or region concerned shall contain the Union's develop­
ment strategy for that country or region.
4. Strategy papers shall be reviewed at their mid-term or on
an ad hoc basis as necessary, in accordance, as appropriate, with
the principles and procedures laid down in the partnership and
cooperation agreements concluded with the partner country or
region concerned.
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5.
Multiannual indicative programmes for geographic
programmes shall be drawn up for each of the countries or
regions receiving an indicative financial allocation of Union
funds under this Regulation. Except for countries or regions
referred to in points (e) and (f) of the first subparagraph of para­
graph 3, those documents shall be drawn up on the basis of the
strategy papers or equivalent documents as referred to in para­
graph 3.
6. The Commission shall report on joint programming with
Member States in the mid-term review report referred to in
Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 236/2014 and shall include
recommendations in cases where joint programming was not
fully achieved.
For the purpose of this Regulation, the joint multiannual
programming document referred to in point (c) of the first sub­
paragraph of paragraph 3 of this Article may be considered as
the multiannual indicative programme, provided that it complies
with the principles and conditions established in this paragraph,
including an indicative allocation of funds, and with the proce­
dures provided for in Article 15.
Article 12
Multiannual indicative programmes for geographic programmes
shall set out the priority areas selected for Union financing, the
specific objectives, the expected results, clear, specific and trans­
parent performance indicators, the indicative financial alloca­
tions, both overall and per priority area and, where applicable,
aid modalities.
The Commission shall adopt the multiannual indicative financial
allocations within each geographic programme in accordance
with the general principles of this Regulation, based on the
criteria laid down in Article 3(2), and taking into account,
alongside the specificity of the different programmes, the par­
ticular difficulties faced by countries or regions that are in crisis,
are vulnerable, fragile, in conflict or are disaster prone.
Where appropriate, the financial allocations may be given in
form of a range and/or some funds may be left unallocated.
indicative financial allocations may be foreseen beyond
period 2014-2020, unless they are specifically subject to
availability of resources beyond that period.
the
No
the
the
The multiannual indicative programmes for geographic
programmes may be reviewed where necessary, including for
effective implementation, taking into account mid-term or ad
hoc reviews of the strategy document on which they are based.
Programming for countries and regions in crisis, post-crisis
or situations of fragility
1. When drawing up the programming documents for coun­
tries and regions in crisis, post-crisis or situations of fragility or
prone to natural disasters, due account shall be taken of the
vulnerability, special needs and circumstances of the countries
or regions concerned.
Proper attention should be given to conflict prevention, State
and peace building, post-conflict reconciliation and reconstruc­
tion measures, as well as to the role of women and the rights of
children in those processes.
Where partner countries or regions are directly involved in, or
affected by, a crisis, post-crisis or situation of fragility, special
emphasis shall be placed on stepping up coordination between
relief, rehabilitation and development amongst all relevant
actors to help the transition from an emergency situation to the
development phase.
Programming documents for countries and regions in a situa­
tion of fragility or prone to natural disasters shall provide for
disaster preparedness and prevention and for managing the
consequences of such disasters and shall address vulnerability to
shocks and strengthen resilience.
Indicative financial allocations, priorities, specific objectives,
expected results, performance indicators and, where applicable,
aid modalities may also be adapted as a result of reviews, in par­
ticular following a crisis or post-crisis situation.
2. On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency, such as
crises or immediate threats to democracy, the rule of law,
human rights or fundamental freedoms, the Commission may
adopt immediately applicable implementing acts in accordance
with the procedure referred to in Article 16(4) of Regulation
(EU) No 236/2014 in order to modify strategy papers and
multiannual indicative programmes referred to in Article 11 of
this Regulation.
Such reviews should cover needs as well as the commitment
and progress with regard to agreed objectives for development,
including those referring to human rights, democracy, the rule
of law and good governance.
Such reviews may entail a specific and adapted strategy to
ensure the transition to long-term cooperation and develop­
ment, promoting a better coordination and transition between
the humanitarian and development policy instruments.
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Article 13
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The multiannual indicative programme for the Pan-African
programme shall be coherent with geographic and thematic
programmes.
Programming documents for thematic programmes
1.
Multiannual indicative programmes for thematic
programmes shall set out the Union's strategy for the theme
concerned and, with regard to the ‘Global Public Goods and
Challenges’ programme, for each area of cooperation, the priori­
ties selected for financing by the Union, the specific objectives,
the expected results, clear, specific and transparent performance
indicators, the international situation and the activities of the
main partners and, where applicable, aid modalities.
Where applicable, resources and intervention priorities shall be
laid down for participation in global initiatives.
3. The multiannual indicative programme for the PanAfrican programme shall give the indicative financial allocations,
overall, by area of activity and by priority. Where appropriate,
the indicative financial allocation may be given in the form of a
range.
The multiannual indicative programme for the Pan-African
programme may be reviewed where necessary, to respond to
unforeseen challenges or implementation problems, and to take
into account any review of the strategic partnership.
Article 15
Multiannual indicative programmes for thematic programmes
shall be complementary to geographic programmes and shall be
consistent with the strategy papers referred to in Article 11(2).
Approval of strategy papers and adoption of multiannual
indicative programmes
2.
The multiannual indicative programmes for thematic
programmes shall give the indicative financial allocation, overall,
by area of cooperation and by priority. Where appropriate, the
indicative financial allocation may be given in the form of a
range and/or some funds may be left unallocated.
1 The Commission shall approve strategy papers referred to
in Article 11 and shall adopt multiannual indicative
programmes referred to in Articles 11, 13 and 14 by means of
implementing acts. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in
accordance with the examination procedure referred to in
Article 16(3) of Regulation (EU) No 236/2014. That procedure
shall also apply to reviews which have the effect of significantly
modifying the strategy or its programming.
Multiannual indicative programmes for thematic programmes
shall be reviewed where necessary for effective implementation,
taking into account mid-term or ad hoc reviews.
Indicative financial allocations, priorities, specific objectives,
expected results, performance indicators and, where applicable,
aid modalities may also be adapted as a result of reviews.
Article 14
2. On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency, such as
crises or immediate threats to democracy, the rule of law,
human rights or fundamental freedoms, the Commission may
review strategy papers referred to in Article 11 of this Regu­
lation and multiannual indicative programmes referred to in
Articles 11, 13 and 14 of this Regulation in accordance with
the procedure referred in Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU)
No 236/2014.
TITLE IV
FINAL PROVISIONS
Programming documents for the Pan-African programme
Article 16
1.
The preparation, implementation and review of the
programming documents for the Pan-African programme shall
comply with the principles of aid effectiveness as laid down in
Article 3(4) to (8).
Programming documents for the Pan-African programme shall
be based on a dialogue involving all relevant stakeholders, such
as the Pan-African Parliament.
2.
The multiannual indicative programme for the PanAfrican programme shall set out the priorities selected for finan­
cing, the specific objectives, the expected results, clear, specific
and transparent performance indicators and, where applicable,
aid modalities.
Participation by a third country not eligible under this
Regulation
In exceptional and duly justified circumstances, and without
prejudice to Article 2(3) of this Regulation, in order to ensure
the coherence and effectiveness of Union financing or to foster
regional or trans-regional cooperation, the Commission may
decide, within the multiannual indicative programmes in accord­
ance with Article 15 of this Regulation or the relevant imple­
menting measures in accordance with Article 2 of Regulation
(EU) No 236/2014, to extend the eligibility of actions to coun­
tries and territories which otherwise would not be eligible for
financing pursuant to Article 1 of this Regulation, where the
action to be implemented is of a global, regional, trans-regional
or cross-border nature.
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Article 17
Delegation of power to the Commission
1.
The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated
acts in accordance with Article 18 to amend:
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5. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 17 shall enter
into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the
European Parliament or the Council within a period of two
months of notification of that act to the European Parliament
and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the Euro­
pean Parliament and the Council have both informed the
Commission that they will not object. That period shall be
extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parlia­
ment or of the Council.
(a) the details of areas of cooperation referred to in:
(i) Article 5(3) as set out in Part A and Part B of Annex I;
Article 19
(ii) Article 7(2) as set out in Part A of Annex II;
Committee
(iii) Article 8(2) as set out in Part B of Annex II;
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee (the
‘DCI committee’). That committee shall be a committee within
the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.
(iv) Article 9(3) as set out in Annex III, in particular in
follow-up to Africa-EU Summits;
(b) indicative financial allocations under the geographic
programmes and under the thematic programme ‘Global
Public Goods and Challenges’, as set out in Annex IV. The
amendments shall not have the effect of decreasing the
initial amount by more than 5 %, except for allocations
under point (b) of Annex IV(1).
2.
In particular, following the publication of the mid-term
review report referred to in Article 17 of Regulation (EU)
No 236/2014, and based on the recommendations contained in
that report, the Commission shall adopt the delegated acts
referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article by 31 March 2018.
Article 18
Exercise of the delegation
1.
The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the
Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.
2.
The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 17
shall be conferred on the Commission for the period of validity
of this Regulation.
3.
The delegation of power referred to in Article 17 may be
revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the
Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation
of power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day
following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of
the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall
not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.
4.
As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall
notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the
Council.
2. An observer from the EIB shall take part in the DCI
committee's proceedings with regard to questions concerning
the EIB.
Article 20
Financial envelope
1. The financial envelope for the implementation of
this Regulation for the period 2014-2020 shall be
EUR 19 661 639 000.
The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the European
Parliament and the Council within the limits of the multiannual
financial framework.
2. The indicative amounts allocated to each programme
referred to in Articles 5 to 9 for the period 2014-2020 are laid
down in Annex IV.
3. In accordance with Article 18(4) of Regulation (EU)
No 1288/2013 of the European Parliament and of the
Council (1), an indicative amount of EUR 1 680 000 000 from
the different instruments for financing external action (Develop­
ment Cooperation Instrument, European Neighbourhood Instru­
ment, Partnership Instrument and Instrument for Pre-accession
Assistance) shall be allocated to actions in respect of learning
mobility to or from partner countries within the meaning of
Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013, and to cooperation and policy
dialogue with authorities, institutions and organisations from
those countries.
Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 shall apply to the use of those
funds.
(1) Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing ‘Erasmus+’: the
Union programme for education, training, youth and sport and
repealing Decisions No 1719/2006/EC, No 1720/2006/EC and
No 1298/2008/EC (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 50).
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The funding shall be made available through two multiannual
allocations covering the first four years and the remaining three
years respectively. The allocation of that funding shall be
reflected in the multiannual indicative programming provided
for in this Regulation, in line with the identified needs and prio­
rities of the countries concerned. The allocations may be revised
in the event of major unforeseen circumstances or important
political changes in line with the priorities of the Union's
external action.
5. The Commission shall include in its annual report on the
implementation of this Regulation, as provided for in Article 13
of Regulation (EU) No 236/2014, a list of all actions referred to
in paragraph 3 of this Article the funding of which is derived
from this Regulation, including their compliance with the objec­
tives and principles set out in Articles 2 and 3 of this Regu­
lation.
4.
The funding under this Regulation for actions referred to
in paragraph 3 shall not exceed EUR 707 000 000. The funds
shall be drawn from the financial allocations for geographic
programmes, and the expected regional distribution and the
types of actions shall be specified. Funding pursuant to this
Regulation aimed at financing actions covered by Regulation
(EU) No 1288/2013 shall be used for actions for the benefit of
the partner countries which are covered by this Regulation, with
particular attention paid to the poorest countries. The student
and staff mobility actions funded through the allocation from
this Regulation shall focus on areas that are relevant to the
inclusive and sustainable development of developing countries.
European External Action Service
Article 21
This Regulation shall apply in accordance with Decision
2010/427/EU.
Article 22
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that
of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 1 January 2014 until 31 December 2020.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Strasbourg, 11 March 2014.
For the European Parliament
For the Council
The President
The President
M. SCHULZ
D. KOURKOULAS
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ANNEX I
AREAS OF COOPERATION UNDER GEOGRAPHIC PROGRAMMES
A. COMMON AREAS OF COOPERATION UNDER GEOGRAPHIC PROGRAMMES
Geographic programmes shall be drawn from the areas of cooperation set out below, which should not be read to equate
with sectors. Priorities will be established in accordance with international commitments in the area of development
policy that the Union has entered into, in particular the MDGs and post-2015 internationally-agreed new development
targets which modify or replace the MDGs, and on the basis of a policy dialogue with each eligible partner country or
region.
I.
Human rights, democracy and good governance
(a)
Human rights, democracy and the rule of law
(i)
supporting democratisation and strengthening democratic institutions, including the role of parliaments;
(ii) strengthening the rule of law and the independence of judicial and protection systems and ensuring unhindered
and equal access to justice for all;
(iii) supporting the transparent and accountable functioning of institutions and decentralisation; promoting a parti­
cipatory in-country social dialogue and other dialogues on governance and human rights;
(iv) promoting media freedom, including for modern means of communication;
(v) promoting political pluralism, protection of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights and protection
of persons belonging to minorities and to most vulnerable groups;
(vi) supporting the fight against discrimination and discriminatory practices on any ground, inter alia, on the basis
of racial or ethnic origin, caste, religion or belief, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation, social affiliation,
disability, health status or age;
(vii) promoting civil registration, especially birth and death registration.
(b)
Gender equality, empowerment of and equal opportunities for women
(i) promoting gender equality and equity;
(ii) protecting the rights of women and girls, including through actions against child marriage and other harmful
traditional practices such as female genital mutilation and any form of violence against women and girls and
support for the victims of gender-based violence;
(iii) promoting the empowerment of women, including in their roles as development actors and peace-builders.
(c)
Public sector management at central and local level
(i) supporting the development of the public sector with the purpose of enhancing universal and non-discrimina­
tory access to basic services, especially health and education;
(ii) supporting programmes to improve policy formulation, public financial management, including the setting-up
and reinforcement of audit, control and anti-fraud bodies and measures, and institutional development,
including human resource management;
(iii) strengthening the technical expertise of parliaments, enabling them to assess and contribute to the formulation
and oversight of national budgets, including as regards domestic revenues from resource extraction and tax
matters.
(d)
Tax policy and administration
(i) supporting the building-up or strengthening of fair, transparent, effective, progressive and sustainable domestic
tax systems;
(ii) strengthening monitoring capacities in developing countries in the fight against tax evasion and illicit financial
flows;
(iii) supporting the production and dissemination of work on tax fraud and its impact, in particular by oversight
bodies, parliaments and civil society organisations;
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(iv) supporting multilateral and regional initiatives on tax administration and tax reforms;
(v) supporting developing countries to participate more effectively in international tax cooperation structures and
processes;
(vi) supporting the inclusion of country-by-country and project-by-project reporting in the legislation of partner
countries to enhance financial transparency.
(e)
Fight against corruption
(i) assisting partner countries in tackling all forms of corruption, including through advocacy, awareness-raising and
reporting;
(ii) increasing the capacity of control and oversight bodies and of the judiciary.
(f)
Civil society and local authorities
(i) supporting capacity building of civil society organisations, in order to strengthen their voice and active partici­
pation in the development process and to advance political, social and economic dialogue;
(ii) supporting capacity building of local authorities and mobilising their expertise to promote a territorial approach
to development, including decentralisation processes;
(iii) promoting an enabling environment for citizen participation and civil society action.
(g)
Promotion and protection of the rights of children
(i) promoting the granting of legal documents;
(ii) supporting an adequate and healthy standard of life and healthy growth to adulthood;
(iii) ensuring the provision of basic education to all.
II.
Inclusive and sustainable growth for human development
(a)
Health, education, social protection, employment and culture
(i)
supporting sectoral reforms that increase access to basic social services, in particular quality health and educa­
tion services, with a focus on the related MDGs and on access to such services by the poor and by margina­
lised and vulnerable groups;
(ii)
strengthening local capacities to respond to global, regional and local challenges, including through using
sectoral budget support with intensified policy dialogue;
(iii) strengthening health systems, inter alia by addressing the lack of qualified health providers, fair financing for
health and making medicines and vaccines more affordable for the poor;
(iv) promoting the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Programme of
Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the outcomes of their review
conferences and in this context sexual and reproductive health and rights;
(v)
ensuring an adequate supply of affordable good quality drinking water, adequate sanitation and hygiene;
(vi) enhancing support for and equal access to quality education;
(vii) supporting vocational training for employability and capacity to carry out and use the results of research in
favour of sustainable development;
(viii) supporting national social protection schemes and floors, including social insurance systems for health and
pension schemes, with a focus on reducing inequality;
(ix) supporting the decent work agenda, and promoting social dialogue;
(x)
promoting inter-cultural dialogue, cultural diversity and respect for the equal dignity of all cultures;
(xi) promoting international cooperation to stimulate the contribution of cultural industries to economic growth
in developing countries to fully exploit its potential to fight poverty, including addressing issues such as
market access and intellectual property rights.
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(b)
Business environment, regional integration and world markets
(i)
supporting the development of a competitive local private sector, including by building local institutional and
business capacity;
(ii)
supporting the development of local production systems and of local enterprises, including green enterprises;
(iii) promoting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), microenterprises and cooperatives and fair trade;
(iv)
promoting the development of local, domestic and regional markets, including markets for environmental
goods and services;
(v)
supporting legislative and regulatory framework reforms and their enforcement;
(vi)
facilitating access to business and financial services such as micro-credit and savings, micro-insurance and
payment transfer;
(vii) supporting the enforcement of internationally agreed labour rights;
(viii) establishing and improving laws and land registries to protect land and intellectual property rights;
(ix) promoting research and innovation policies which contribute to sustainable and inclusive development;
(x)
promoting investments that generate sustainable employment, including through blending mechanisms, with a
focus on financing for domestic companies and leveraging domestic capitals, in particular at SME level, and
supporting human resources development;
(xi) improving infrastructure with full respect for social and environmental standards;
(xii) promoting sectoral approaches to sustainable transport, meeting partner countries' needs, ensuring transport
safety, affordability and efficiency, and minimising negative effects on the environment;
(xiii) engaging with the private sector to enhance socially responsible and sustainable development, promoting
corporate social and environmental responsibility and accountability and social dialogue;
(xiv) assisting developing countries in trade and regional and continental integration efforts, and providing assis­
tance for their smooth and gradual integration into the world economy;
(xv) supporting more generalised access to information and communication technologies to bridge the digital
divide.
(c)
Sustainable agriculture, food and nutrition security
(i)
helping build developing countries' resilience to shocks (such as scarcity of resources and supply, price volati­
lity) and tackling inequalities, by giving poor people better access to land, food, water, energy and finance
without harming the environment;
(ii) supporting sustainable agricultural practices and relevant agricultural research, and focusing on smallholder
agriculture and rural livelihoods;
(iii) supporting women in agriculture;
(iv) encouraging government efforts to facilitate socially and ecologically responsible private investment;
(v) supporting strategic approaches to food security, with a focus on food availability, access, infrastructure, storage
and nutrition;
(vi) addressing food insecurity and malnutrition through basic interventions in situations of transition and fragility;
(vii) supporting country-led, participatory, decentralised and environmentally sustainable territorial development.
(d)
Sustainable energy
(i) improving access to modern, affordable, sustainable, efficient, clean and renewable energy services;
(ii) promoting local and regional sustainable energy solutions and decentralised energy production.
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Natural resources management, including land, forestry and water, in particular:
(i) supporting oversight processes and bodies and backing governance reforms that promote the sustainable and
transparent management and preservation of natural resources;
(ii) promoting equitable access to water, as well as integrated water resources management and river basin manage­
ment;
(iii) promoting the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services;
(iv) promoting sustainable patterns of production and consumption and the safe and sustainable management of
chemicals and waste, taking into account their impacts on health.
(f)
Climate change and environment
(i) promoting the use of cleaner technologies, sustainable energy and resource efficiency with a view to achieving
low-carbon development while reinforcing environmental standards;
(ii) improving the resilience of developing countries to the consequences of climate change by supporting
ecosystem-based climate change adaptation and mitigation and disaster risk reduction measures;
(iii) supporting the implementation of relevant multilateral environmental agreements, in particular the strength­
ening of the environmental dimension of the institutional framework for sustainable development and the
promotion of the protection of biodiversity;
(iv) helping partner countries in coping with the challenge of displacement and migration induced by the effects of
climate change, and rebuilding climate refugees' livelihoods.
III.
Other areas of significance for development
(a)
Migration and asylum
(i) supporting targeted efforts to fully exploit the interrelationship between migration, mobility, employment and
poverty reduction, so as to make migration a positive force for development and reducing ‘brain drain’;
(ii) supporting developing countries in adopting long-term policies for managing migratory flows which respect the
human rights of migrants and their families and enhance their social protection.
(b)
Linking humanitarian relief and development cooperation
(i) reconstructing and rehabilitating, in the medium- and long-term, regions and countries affected by conflict as
well as by man-made and natural disasters;
(ii) carrying out medium- and long-term activities aimed at the self-sufficiency and integration or reintegration of
uprooted people, linking relief, rehabilitation and development.
(c)
Resilience and disaster risk reduction
(i) in situations of fragility, supporting the delivery of basic services and building legitimate, effective and resilient
State institutions and an active and organised civil society, in partnership with the country concerned;
(ii) contributing to a prevention approach to State fragility, conflict, natural disasters and other types of crises by
assisting partner countries' and regional organisations' efforts to strengthen early warning systems and demo­
cratic governance and institutional capacity building;
(iii) supporting disaster risk reduction, preparedness and prevention and the management of the consequences of
such disasters.
(d)
Development and security, including conflict prevention
(i) addressing the root causes of conflict, including poverty, degradation, exploitation and unequal distribution and
access to land and natural resources, weak governance, human rights abuses and gender inequality as a means
of supporting conflict prevention and resolution and peace building;
(ii) promoting dialogue, participation and reconciliation with a view to promoting peace and preventing outbreaks
of violence, in accordance with international best practice;
(iii) fostering cooperation and policy reform in the fields of security and justice, the fight against drugs and other
trafficking, including trafficking in human beings, corruption and money laundering.
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B. SPECIFIC AREAS OF COOPERATION PER REGION
Union assistance shall support actions and sectoral dialogues consistent with Article 5 and Part A of this Annex, and with
the overall purpose and scope, objective and general principles of this Regulation. Particular consideration shall be given
to the areas described below, reflecting jointly-agreed strategies.
I. Latin America
(a) Encouraging social cohesion, in particular social inclusion, decent work and equity, gender equality and women
empowerment;
(b) addressing governance issues and supporting policy reforms, in particular in the areas of social policies, public finance
management and taxation, security (including drugs, criminality and corruption), reinforcement of good governance,
public institutions at local, national and regional levels (including through innovative mechanisms for the provision of
technical cooperation, e.g. Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX) and twinning), protection of
human rights, including those of minorities, indigenous peoples and afro-descendants, respect for the core labour
standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), environment, the fight against discrimination, the fight
against sexual, gender-based and child violence and the fight against the production, consumption and trafficking of
drugs;
(c) supporting an active, organised and independent civil society and strengthening social dialogue through support for
social partners;
(d) strengthening social cohesion in particular with the setting-up and strengthening of sustainable social protection
systems, including social insurance, and fiscal reform, strengthening the capacity of tax systems and the fight against
fraud and tax evasion which contributes to enhancing equality and wealth distribution;
(e) assisting Latin American States to fulfil their obligation of due diligence in the prevention, investigation, prosecution,
sanction and reparation of and attention to feminicide;
(f) supporting various processes of regional integration and interconnection of network infrastructures, while ensuring
complementarity with activities supported by the EIB and other institutions;
(g) addressing the security-development nexus;
(h) strengthening the capacity to provide universal access to basic social services of quality, particularly in the health and
education sectors;
(i) supporting policies in the area of education and the development of a common Latin American higher education
area;
(j) addressing economic vulnerability and contributing to structural transformation by establishing strong partnerships
around open and fair trade relations, productive investments for more and better jobs in the green and inclusive
economy, knowledge transfer and cooperation in research, innovation and technology, and promoting sustainable and
inclusive growth in all its dimensions, with particular attention to the challenges of migratory flows, food security
(including sustainable agriculture and fisheries), climate change, sustainable energies and the protection and enhance­
ment of biodiversity and ecosystem services, including water, soil and forests; supporting the development of microen­
terprises and SMEs as the main source of inclusive growth, development and jobs; promoting development aid for
trade to ensure that Latin American microenterprises and SMEs can benefit from international trading opportunities,
taking into account changes in the generalised scheme of preferences;
(k) mitigating the adverse effects that exclusion from the generalised scheme of preferences will have on the economies of
many of the countries in the region;
(l) ensuring an appropriate follow-up to short-term emergency measures addressing post-disaster or post-crisis recovery
implemented through other financing instruments.
II. South Asia
(1) Promote democratic governance
(a) supporting democratic processes, fostering effective democratic governance, strengthening public institutions and
bodies (including at local level), supporting efficient decentralisation, State restructuring and electoral processes;
(b) supporting the development of an active, organised and independent civil society, including the media, and
strengthening social dialogue through support for social partners;
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(c) building and strengthening legitimate, effective and accountable public institutions, promoting institutional and
administrative reforms, good governance, anti-corruption and public financial management, and supporting the
rule of law;
(d) strengthening the protection of human rights, including the rights of minorities, migrants, indigenous people and
vulnerable groups, the fight against discrimination, sexual, gender-based and child violence and human trafficking;
(e) protecting human rights, through the promotion of institutional reforms (including on good governance and anti­
corruption, public financial management, taxation and public administration reform) and legislative, administrative
and regulatory reforms in line with international standards, in particular in fragile States and countries in conflict
and post-conflict situations.
(2) Promote social inclusion and human development in all its dimensions
(a) encouraging social cohesion, in particular social inclusion, decent work and equity and gender equality through
education, health and other social policies;
(b) strengthening the capacity to provide universal access to basic social services, particularly in the health and educa­
tion sectors; improving access to education for all with a view to increasing knowledge, skills and employability
on the job market, including — where relevant — by addressing inequality and discrimination on the basis of
work and descent, and in particular caste-based discrimination;
(c) promoting social protection and inclusion, decent employment and core labour standards, equity and gender
equality through education, health and other social policies;
(d) promoting high-quality education, vocational training and health services which are accessible to all (including for
girls and women);
(e) in the context of the security and development nexus, fighting against gender and descent-based violence, child
abduction, corruption and organised crime, production, consumption and trafficking of drugs and other forms
of trafficking;
(f) establishing development-oriented partnerships around agriculture, private sector development, trade, investment,
aid, migration, research, innovation and technology and the provision of public goods, aiming at poverty reduc­
tion and social inclusion.
(3) Support sustainable development, increase the resilience of South Asian societies against climate change and natural
disasters
(a) promoting sustainable and inclusive growth and livelihoods, integrated rural development, sustainable agriculture
and forestry, food security and nutrition;
(b) promoting sustainable use of natural resources and renewable energy, protection of biodiversity, water and waste
management, soil and forest protection;
(c) contributing to efforts to address climate change through supporting adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk
reduction measures;
(d) supporting efforts to improve economic diversification, competitiveness and trade, private sector development
with a particular focus on microenterprises and SMEs and cooperatives;
(e) promoting sustainable consumption and production as well as investments in clean technologies, sustainable ener­
gies, transport, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, the protection and enhancement of biodiversity and
ecosystem services, including water and forests, and decent job creation in the green economy;
(f) supporting disaster preparedness and post-disaster long-term recovery, including in the field of food and nutrition
security and assistance to uprooted people.
(4) Support regional integration and cooperation
(a) encouraging regional integration and cooperation, in a result-oriented way through support for regional integra­
tion and dialogue, in particular through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and promoting the
development objectives of the Istanbul (‘Heart of Asia’) process;
(b) supporting efficient border management and cross-border co-operation to promote sustainable economic, social
and environmental development in border regions; fighting against organised crime, production, consumption
and trafficking of drugs;
(c) supporting regional initiatives targeting the major communicable diseases; contributing to preventing and
responding to health risks, including those originating at the interface between animals, humans and their various
environments.
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III. North and South East Asia
(1) Promote democratic governance
(a) contributing to democratisation; building and strengthening legitimate, effective and accountable public institu­
tions and bodies and protecting human rights, through the promotion of institutional reforms (including on good
governance and anti-corruption, public financial management, taxation and public administration reform) and
legislative, administrative and regulatory reforms in line with international standards, in particular in fragile States
and in countries in conflict and post-conflict situations;
(b) strengthening the protection of human rights, including the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples,
promoting respect for core labour standards, fighting against discrimination, fighting against sexual, gender-based
and child violence, including children in armed conflict, and addressing the issue of human trafficking;
(c) supporting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) human rights architecture, especially the work of
the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights;
(d) building and strengthening legitimate, effective and accountable public institutions and bodies;
(e) supporting an active, organised and independent civil society; strengthening social dialogue through support for
social partners;
(f) supporting the efforts of the region to enhance democracy, the rule of law and citizen security, including through
justice and security sector reform, and the promotion of inter-ethnic and inter-faith dialogue and peace processes;
(g) in the context of the security and development nexus, fighting against corruption and organised crime, produc­
tion, consumption and trafficking of drugs and against other forms of trafficking, and supporting efficient border
management and cross-border co-operation to promote sustainable economic, social and environmental develop­
ment in border regions; support for demining activities.
(2) Promote social inclusion and human development in all its dimensions
(a) encouraging social cohesion, in particular social inclusion, decent work and equity and gender equality;
(b) strengthening the capacity to provide universal access to basic social services, particularly in the health and educa­
tion sectors; improving access to education for all with a view to increasing knowledge, skills and employability
on the job market, including — where relevant — by addressing inequality and discrimination on the basis of
work and descent, and in particular caste-based discrimination;
(c) establishing development-oriented partnerships around agriculture, private sector development, trade, investment,
aid, migration, research, innovation and technology and the provision of public goods, aiming at poverty reduc­
tion and social inclusion;
(d) supporting the efforts of the region to prevent and respond to health risks, including those originating at the
interface between animals, humans and their various environments;
(e) promoting inclusive education, life-long learning and training (including higher education, vocational education
and training), and improving the functioning of labour markets;
(f) promoting a greener economy and sustainable and inclusive growth especially with regard to agriculture, food
security and nutrition, sustainable energies and the protection and enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem
services;
(g) in the context of the security and development nexus, fighting against gender and descent-based violence and
child abduction.
(3) Support sustainable development and increase the resilience of South East Asian societies against climate change and
natural disasters
(a) supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation, promoting sustainable consumption and production;
(b) supporting the region to mainstream climate change into sustainable development strategies, to develop policies
and instruments for adaptation and mitigation, to address the adverse effects of climate change and enhance long­
term cooperation initiatives and to reduce the vulnerability to disasters, to support the ASEAN Multi-Sectoral
Framework on Climate Change: Agriculture and Forestry towards Food Security;
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(c) in view of population expansion and changing consumer demands, support for sustainable consumption and
production as well as investments in clean technologies in particular at regional level, sustainable energies, trans­
port, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, the protection and enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem services,
including water and forests, and decent job creation in the green economy;
(d) link relief, rehabilitation and development by ensuring an appropriate follow up to short-term emergency
measures addressing post-disaster or post-crisis recovery implemented through other financing instruments;
supporting disaster preparedness and post-disaster long-term recovery, including in the field of food and nutrition
security and assistance to uprooted people.
(4) Support regional integration and cooperation across North and South East Asia
(a) encouraging greater regional integration and cooperation in a result-oriented way through support to regional
integration and dialogue;
(b) supporting socio-economic integration and connectivity of ASEAN, including the implementation of the develop­
ment-related objectives of the ASEAN Economic Community, the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity and the
Post-2015 Vision;
(c) promoting trade-related assistance and development aid for trade, including to ensure that microenterprises and
SMEs benefit from international trading opportunities;
(d) leveraging financing for sustainable infrastructures and networks favouring regional integration, social inclusion
and cohesion and sustainable growth, while ensuring complementarity with activities supported by the EIB and
other Union financing institutions as well as with other institutions in this area;
(e) encouraging dialogue between ASEAN institutions and countries and the Union;
(f) supporting regional initiatives targeting the major communicable diseases; contributing to preventing and
responding to health risks, including those originating at the interface between animals, humans and their various
environments.
IV. Central Asia
(a) As overarching objectives, contributing to sustainable and inclusive economic and social development, social cohesion
and democracy;
(b) supporting food security, access to sustainable energy security, water and sanitation for local populations; promoting
and supporting disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation;
(c) supporting representative and democratically elected parliaments, promoting and supporting good governance and
democratisation processes; sound management of public finances; the rule of law, with well-functioning institutions
and effective respect for human rights and gender equality; supporting an active, organised and independent civil
society, and strengthening social dialogue through support for social partners;
(d) promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, addressing social and regional inequalities, and supporting
innovation and technology, decent work, agriculture and rural development, promoting economic diversification by
supporting microenterprises and SMEs, while stimulating the development of a regulated social market economy,
open and fair trade and investment, including regulatory reforms;
(e) supporting efficient border management and cross-border cooperation to promote sustainable economic, social and
environmental development in border regions; in the context of the security and development nexus, fighting orga­
nized crime and all forms of trafficking, including the fight against production and consumption of drugs as well as
negative effects thereof, including HIV/AIDS;
(f) promoting bilateral and regional cooperation, dialogue and integration including with countries covered by the Euro­
pean Neighbourhood Instrument and other Union instruments to support policy reforms, including through institu­
tion building when appropriate, technical assistance (e.g. TAIEX), information exchange and twinning, and by key
investments through appropriate mechanisms to mobilise financial resources in the education, environment and
energy sectors, low emissions development/resilience to climate change impacts;
(g) strengthening the capacity to provide universal access to quality basic social services, particularly in the health and
education sectors; supporting access for the populations, especially young people and women, to employment, inter
alia through supporting improvement of general, vocational and higher education.
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V. Middle East
(a) Addressing democratisation and governance (including in the tax area), rule of law, human rights and gender equality,
fundamental freedoms and political equality issues so as to encourage political reforms, the fight against corruption,
and the transparency of the judicial process and to build legitimate, democratic, effective and accountable public insti­
tutions and an active, independent and organised civil society; strengthening social dialogue through support for
social partners;
(b) supporting civil society in its fight in defence of fundamental freedoms, human rights and democratic principles;
(c) promoting inclusive growth and encouraging social cohesion and development, in particular creation of employment,
social inclusion, decent work and equity and gender equality; strengthening the capacity to provide universal access to
basic social services, particularly in the health and education sectors; addressing, where relevant, inequality and discri­
mination on the basis of work and descent, and in particular caste-based discrimination;
(d) supporting the development of civic culture especially via training, education and participation of children, young
people and women;
(e) promoting sustainable economic reform and diversification, open and fair trade relations, the development of a regu­
lated and sustainable social market economy, productive and sustainable investment in the main sectors (such as
energy, with a focus on renewable energy);
(f) promoting good neighbourly relations, regional cooperation, dialogue and integration, including with countries
covered by the European Neighbourhood Instrument and the Gulf States covered by the Partnership Instrument and
other Union instruments by supporting integration efforts within the region, indicatively on economy, energy, water,
transportation and refugees;
(g) promoting sustainable and equitable management of water resources as well as the protection of water resources;
(h) complementing resources deployed under this Regulation by coherent work and support through other Union instru­
ments and policies, which may focus on access to the Union internal market, labour mobility and wider regional inte­
gration;
(i) in the context of the security and development nexus, fighting against production, consumption and trafficking of
drugs;
(j) in the context of the development and migration nexus, managing migration and helping displaced persons and refu­
gees.
VI. Other countries
(a) Supporting the consolidation of a democratic society, good governance, respect for human rights, gender equality, a
State governed by the rule of law and contributing to regional and continental stability and integration; supporting an
active, organised and independent civil society, and strengthening social dialogue through support for social partners;
(b) providing support to the adjustment efforts triggered by the establishment of various free-trade areas;
(c) supporting the fight against poverty, inequality and exclusion, including by addressing the basic needs of the disadvan­
taged communities and by promoting social cohesion and redistributive policies aimed at reducing inequalities;
(d) strengthening the capacity to provide universal access to basic social services, particularly in the health and education
sectors;
(e) improving living and working conditions with a special emphasis on promoting the ILO decent work agenda;
(f) addressing economic vulnerability and contributing to structural transformation with emphasis on decent employment
through sustainable and inclusive economic growth and an energy-efficient, renewables-based low carbon economy by
establishing strong partnerships around fair trade relations, productive investments for more and better jobs in the
green and inclusive economy, knowledge transfer and cooperation in research, innovation and technology, and
promoting sustainable and inclusive development in all its dimensions, with particular attention to the challenges of
migratory flows, housing, food security (including sustainable agriculture and fisheries), climate change, sustainable
energies and the protection and enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem services, including water and soil;
(g) addressing sexual and gender-based violence and health issues, including HIV/AIDS and its impacts on society.
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ANNEX II
AREAS OF COOPERATION UNDER THEMATIC PROGRAMMES
A. ‘GLOBAL PUBLIC GOODS AND CHALLENGES’ PROGRAMME
The ‘Global Public Goods and Challenges’ programme aims at strengthening cooperation, exchange of knowledge and
experience and partner countries' capacities with a view to contribute to poverty eradication, social cohesion and sustain­
able development. This programme shall be drawn from the following areas of cooperation, ensuring a maximum synergy
amongst them in light of their strong interconnection.
I. Environment and climate change
(a) Contributing to the external dimension of the Union's environment and climate change policies with full respect for
the principle of policy coherence for development and other principles set out in the TFEU;
(b) working upstream in assisting developing countries to achieve the MDGs or any subsequent framework agreed by the
Union and the Member States, related to the sustainable use of natural resources and environmental sustainability;
(c) implementing the Union initiatives and agreed commitments at international and regional level and/or of a trans­
boundary character particularly in the areas of climate change through the promotion of climate resilient low carbon
strategies giving priority to strategies to promote biodiversity, protection of ecosystems and natural resources, sustain­
able management including oceans, land, water, fisheries and forests (for example through mechanisms such as
FLEGT), desertification, integrated water resource management, sound chemicals and waste management, resource effi­
ciency and the green economy;
(d) increasing the integration and mainstreaming of climate change and environmental objectives in Union development
cooperation through support for methodological and research work on, in and by developing countries, including
monitoring, reporting and verification mechanisms, ecosystem mapping, assessment and valuation, enhancing envir­
onmental expertise and promoting innovative actions and policy coherence;
(e) strengthening environmental governance and supporting international policy development to improve the coherence
and efficiency of global governance of sustainable development, by assisting regional and international environmental
monitoring and assessment, and by promoting effective compliance and enforcement measures in developing coun­
tries for multilateral environmental agreements;
(f) integrating both disaster risk management and climate change adaptation into development planning and investment,
and promoting the implementation of strategies which aim to reduce disaster risk such as protecting ecosystems and
restoring wetlands;
(g) recognising the decisive role of agriculture and livestock-keeping in climate change policies by promoting smallholder
agriculture and livestock farming as autonomous adaptation and mitigation strategies in the South due to their
sustainable use of natural resources such as water and pasture.
II. Sustainable Energy
(a) Promoting access to reliable, secure, affordable, climate-friendly and sustainable energy services as a key driver for
poverty eradication and inclusive growth and development with a special emphasis on the use of local and regional
renewable energy sources and on ensuring access for poor people in remote regions;
(b) fostering greater use of renewable energy technologies, in particular decentralised approaches, as well as energy effi­
ciency and promoting sustainable low emission development strategies;
(c) promoting energy security for partner countries and local communities through, for instance, diversification of
sources and routes, considering price volatility issues, emission reduction potential, improving markets and fostering
energy and, in particular, electricity interconnections and trade.
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III. Human development, including decent work, social justice and culture
(a) Health
(i) improving the health and well-being of people in developing countries through supporting inclusive and
universal access to, and equal provision of, good quality essential public health facilities, goods and services with
a continuum of care from prevention to post-treatment and with special emphasis on the needs of persons
belonging to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups;
(ii) supporting and shaping the policy agenda of global initiatives of direct significant benefit to partner countries,
considering result orientation, aid effectiveness and effects on health systems, including supporting partner coun­
tries to better engage with those initiatives;
(iii) supporting specific initiatives especially at regional and global level, which strengthen health systems and help
countries develop and implement sound, evidence-based and sustainable national health policies, and in priority
areas such as child and maternal health, including immunisation and response to global health threats (such as
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and other poverty-related and neglected diseases);
(iv) promoting the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Programme of Action
of the International Conference on Population and Development and the outcomes of their review conferences
and in this context sexual and reproductive health and rights;
(v) promoting, providing and expanding essential services and psychological support for victims of violence, espe­
cially women and children.
(b) Education, knowledge and skills
(i) supporting the achievement of internationally agreed goals in education through global initiatives and partner­
ships, with special emphasis on promoting knowledge, skills and values for sustainable and inclusive develop­
ment;
(ii) promoting exchange of experience, good practice and innovation, based on a balanced approach to the develop­
ment of education systems;
(iii) improving equal access to and quality of education in particular for persons belonging to vulnerable groups,
migrants, women and girls, persons belonging to religious minorities, people with disabilities, people living in
fragile contexts, and in countries furthest from achieving global targets, and improving the completion of basic
education and the transition to lower secondary education.
(c) Gender equality, women empowerment and protection of women's and girls' rights
(i) supporting country, regional and local level programmes to promote women's and girls' economic and social
empowerment, leadership and equal political participation;
(ii) supporting national, regional and global initiatives to promote the integration of gender equality and women's
and girls' empowerment into polices, plans and budgets, including in international, regional and national devel­
opment frameworks and in the aid effectiveness agenda; helping to eradicate gender-biased sex selection prac­
tices;
(iii) addressing sexual and gender-based violence and supporting its victims.
(d) Children and young people
(i) combating trafficking of and all forms of violence against and abuse of children and all forms of child labour,
combating child marriage, and promotion of policies taking into consideration the particular vulnerability and
potential of children and young people, protection of their rights, including registration at birth, and interests,
education, health and livelihoods, starting with participation and empowerment;
(ii) enhancing developing countries' attention and capacity to develop policies benefiting children and young people
and promoting the role of children and young people as actors for development;
(iii) supporting the development of concrete strategies and interventions to address particular problems and chal­
lenges affecting children and young people, especially in the areas of health, education and employment, taking
their best interests into account in all relevant action.
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(e) Non-discrimination
(i) supporting local, regional, national and global initiatives to promote non-discrimination on grounds of sex,
gender identity, racial or ethnic origin, caste, religion or belief, disability, disease, age and sexual orientation
through the development of policies, plans and budgets, as well as the exchange of good practices and expertise;
(ii) ensuring a broader dialogue on the issue of non-discrimination and the protection of human rights defenders.
(f) Employment, skills, social protection and social inclusion
(i) supporting high levels of productive and decent employment in particular with support for sound education and
employment policies and strategies, vocational training for employability relevant to local labour market needs
and perspectives, working conditions including in the informal economy, promotion of decent work on the basis
of the basic ILO labour standards, including fighting against child labour, and social dialogue as well as facilita­
tion of labour mobility while respecting and promoting migrants' rights;
(ii) strengthening social cohesion in particular with the setting-up and strengthening of sustainable social protection
systems, including social insurance schemes for those living in poverty, and with fiscal reform, strengthening the
capacity of tax systems and the fight against fraud and tax evasion, which contributes to enhancing equality and
wealth distribution;
(iii) strengthening social inclusion and gender equality with cooperation on equitable access to basic services, employ­
ment for all, empowerment and respect of rights of specific groups, in particular migrants, children and young
people, persons with disabilities, women, indigenous peoples and persons belonging to minorities to ensure that
those groups can and will participate in and benefit from wealth creation and cultural diversity.
(g) Growth, jobs and private sector engagement
(i) promoting actions aiming at creating more and better jobs, by developing the competitiveness and resilience of
local microenterprises and SMEs and their integration into the local, regional and global economy, assisting devel­
oping countries to integrate into regional and multilateral trading systems;
(ii) developing local crafts, which serve to preserve the local cultural heritage;
(iii) developing a socially and ecologically responsible local private sector and improving the business environment;
(iv) promoting effective economic policies that support the development of the local economy and local industries,
towards a green and inclusive economy, resource efficiency and sustainable consumption and production
processes;
(v) promoting the use of electronic communication as a tool to support pro-poor growth across all sectors in order
to bridge the digital divide between developing and industrialised countries and inside developing countries, to
achieve an adequate policy and regulatory framework in this area and promoting the development of the neces­
sary infrastructure and the use of services and applications based on information and communication technolo­
gies;
(vi) promoting financial inclusion by fostering access to and effective use of financial services, such as micro-credit
and savings, micro-insurance and payment transfer, by microenterprises and SMEs and households, in particular
disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.
(h) Culture
(i) promoting inter-cultural dialogue, cultural diversity and respect for the equal dignity of all cultures;
(ii) promoting international cooperation to stimulate the contribution of cultural industries to economic growth in
developing countries to fully exploit its potential for fighting poverty, including addressing issues such as market
access and intellectual property rights;
(iii) promoting respect for the social, cultural and spiritual values of indigenous peoples and minorities to enhance
equality and justice in multi-ethnic societies in compliance with universal human rights to which everyone is
entitled, including indigenous peoples and persons belonging to minorities;
(iv) supporting culture as a promising economic sector for development and growth.
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IV. Food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture
Cooperation in this area shall strengthen cooperation, exchange of knowledge and experience and partner countries' capa­
cities on the four pillars of food security with a gender sensitive approach: food availability (production), access (including
land, infrastructure for food transport from surplus to deficit areas, markets, establishing domestic food reserves, safety
nets), utilisation (nutrition interventions in socially aware ways) and stability, while also addressing fair trade and priori­
tising five dimensions: smallholder agriculture and livestock-keeping, food processing to create added value, governance,
regional integration and assistance mechanisms for vulnerable populations, by:
(a) promoting the development of sustainable smallholder agriculture and livestock-keeping through ecosystem-based,
low carbon and climate-resilient secure access to technology (including information and communication technologies),
through the recognition, promotion and reinforcement of local and autonomous adaptation strategies with regard to
climate change, and through extension and technical services, rural development schemes, productive and responsible
investment measures, in accordance with international guidelines, sustainable land and natural resource management,
protection of land rights of the population in its various form and access to land for local populations, protection of
genetic diversity, in an enabling economic environment;
(b) supporting environmentally and socially responsible policy making and governance of the relevant sectors, the role of
the public and non-public actors in its regulation and the use of public goods, its organisational capacity, professional
organisations and institutions;
(c) strengthening food and nutrition security through adequate policies, including the protection of biodiversity and
ecosystem services, climate adaptation policies, information systems, crisis prevention and management, and nutrition
strategies directed to vulnerable populations which mobilise the necessary resources to deliver basic interventions that
could prevent the vast majority of cases of malnutrition;
(d) fostering safe and sustainable practices throughout the food and feed supply chain.
V. Migration and asylum
Cooperation in this area intends to strengthen political dialogue, cooperation, exchange of knowledge and experience and
the capacities of partner countries, civil society organisations and local authorities in order to support human mobility as
a positive element of human development. Cooperation in this area, based on a rights-based approach encompassing all
human rights, whether civil and political or economic, social and cultural, will address the challenges of migration flows,
including South-South migration, the situation of vulnerable migrants such as unaccompanied minors, victims of traf­
ficking, asylum seekers, migrant women, and the condition of children, women and families left in the countries of origin,
by:
(a) promoting migration governance at all levels, with a particular focus on the social and economic consequences of
migration, and recognising the key role of civil society organisations, including diaspora, and local authorities in
addressing migration as an essential component of the development strategy;
(b) ensuring better management of migratory flows in all their dimensions, including through enhancing capacities of
governments and other relevant stakeholders in partner countries in areas such as: legal migration and mobility;
preventing irregular migration, smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings; facilitating sustainable return
of irregular migrants and supporting voluntary return and reintegration; integrated border management capacities;
and international protection and asylum;
(c) maximising the development impact of the increased regional and global mobility of people, and in particular of well­
managed labour migration, improving integration of migrants in countries of destination, promoting and protecting
the rights of migrants and their families, through support to the formulation and implementation of sound regional
and national migration and asylum policies, through integration of the migration dimension into other regional and
national policies and through support for the participation of migrants' organisations and local authorities in policy
formulation and in the monitoring of policy implementation processes;
(d) improving a common understanding of the migration and development nexus, including social and economic conse­
quences of government policies, be they in migration, asylum or in other sectors;
(e) enhancing asylum and reception capacities in partner countries.
Cooperation in this area will be managed in coherence with the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and Internal
Security Fund, with full respect for the principle of policy coherence for development.
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B. ‘CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES’ PROGRAMME
In line with the conclusions of the Structured Dialogue Initiative of the Commission and the support of the Union to
human rights, democracy and good governance, the objective of this programme is to strengthen civil society organisa­
tions and local authorities in partner countries and, when provided for in this Regulation, in the Union, candidate coun­
tries and potential candidates. It aims to foster an enabling environment for citizen participation and civil society action
and cooperation, exchange of knowledge and experience and capacities of civil society organisations and local authorities
in partner countries in support of internationally agreed development goals.
For the purpose of this Regulation, ‘civil society organisations’ are non-State, non-profit making actors operating on an
independent and accountable basis which include: non governmental organisations, organisations representing indigenous
peoples, organisations representing national and/or ethnic minorities, diaspora organisations, migrants' organisations in
partner countries, local traders' associations and citizens' groups, cooperatives, employers associations and trade unions
(social partners), organisations representing economic and social interests, organisations fighting corruption and fraud and
promoting good governance, civil rights organisations and organisations combating discrimination, local organisations
(including networks) involved in decentralised regional cooperation and integration, consumer organisations, women's
and youth organisations, environmental, teaching, cultural, research and scientific organisations, universities, churches and
religious associations and communities, the media and any non governmental associations and independent foundations,
including independent political foundations, likely to contribute to the implementation of the objectives of this Regu­
lation.
For the purpose of this Regulation, ‘local authorities’ encompass a large variety of sub-national levels and branches of
government, i.e. municipalities, communities, districts, counties, provinces, regions etc.
This programme shall contribute to:
(a) an inclusive and empowered society in partner countries through strengthened civil society organisations and local
authorities and basic services delivered to populations in need;
(b) an increased level of awareness in Europe regarding development issues and mobilising active public support in the
Union, candidate countries and potential candidates for poverty reduction and sustainable development strategies in
partner countries;
(c) an increased capacity of European and Southern civil society and local authority networks, platforms and alliances to
ensure a substantive and continued policy dialogue in the field of development and to promote democratic govern­
ance.
Possible activities to be supported by this programme:
(a) interventions in partner countries which support vulnerable and marginalised groups by providing basic services deliv­
ered through civil society organisations and local authorities;
(b) capacity development of the targeted actors complementary to support granted in the framework of the national
programme, actions aiming at:
(i) creating an enabling environment for citizen participation and civil society action and the capacity of civil society
organisations to participate effectively in policy formulation and in the monitoring of policy implementation
processes;
(ii) facilitating an improved dialogue and better interaction between civil society organisations, local authorities, the
State and other development actors in the context of development;
(iii) strengthening the capacity of local authorities to participate effectively in the development process, acknowled­
ging their particular role and specificities;
(c) raising public awareness of development issues, empowering people to become active and responsible citizens and
promoting formal and informal education for development in the Union, in candidate countries and potential candi­
dates, to anchor development policy in society, to mobilise greater public support for action against poverty and for
more equitable relations between developed and developing countries, to raise awareness of the issues and difficulties
facing developing countries and their peoples, and to promote the right to a process of development in which all
human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realised and the social dimension of globalisation;
(d) coordination, capacity development and institutional strengthening of civil society and local authority networks,
within their organisations and between different types of stakeholders active in the public debate on development as
well as coordination, capacity development and institutional strengthening of Southern networks of civil society orga­
nisations and local authorities and umbrella organisations.
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ANNEX III
AREAS OF COOPERATION UNDER THE PAN-AFRICAN PROGRAMME
The Pan-African programme shall support the objectives and general principles of the strategic partnership between
Africa and the Union. It shall promote the principles of a people-centred partnership and ‘treating Africa as one’, as well
as coherence between the regional and continental levels. It shall focus on activities of a trans-regional, continental or
global nature in and with Africa, and support joint Africa-EU initiatives in the global arena. The programme shall in par­
ticular provide support in the following areas of the partnership:
(a) peace and security;
(b) democratic governance and human rights;
(c) trade, regional integration and infrastructure (including raw materials);
(d) MDGs and post-2015 internationally agreed new development targets;
(e) energy;
(f) climate change and environment;
(g) migration, mobility and employment;
(h) science, information society and space;
(i) cross-cutting issues.
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ANNEX IV
INDICATIVE FINANCIAL ALLOCATIONS FOR THE PERIOD 2014-2020
(monetary figures in EUR million)
Total
19 662
(1) Geographic programmes
11 809 (1)
(a) Per geographic area
(i)
Latin America
2 500
(ii) South Asia
3 813
(iii) North and South East Asia
2 870
(iv) Central Asia
1 072
(v) Middle East
545
(vi) Other countries
251
(b) Per area of cooperation
(i)
Human rights, democracy and good governance
(ii) Inclusive and sustainable growth for human development
(2) Thematic programmes
(a) Global Public Goods and Challenges
(i)
Environment and climate change (2)
at least 15 %
at least 45 %
7 008
5 101
27 %
(ii) Sustainable energy
12 %
(iii) Human development including decent work, social justice and culture
25 %
of which:
— Health
at least 40 %
— Education, knowledge and skills
at least 17,5 %
— Gender equality, women empowerment and protection of women's and
girls' rights; children and young people, non-discrimination; employment,
skills, social protection and social inclusion; growth, jobs and private
sector engagement, culture
at least 27,5 %
(iv) Food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture
29 %
(v) Migration and asylum
7%
At least 50 % of the funds, prior to the use of the markers based on OECD methodology (Rio markers), will serve for
climate action and environment-related objectives.
(b) Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities
(3) Pan-African programme
(1) Of which 758 million EUR unallocated funds.
(2) In principle funds will be allocated evenly between environment and climate change.
1 907
845
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Declaration by the European Commission on the strategic dialogue with the European Parliament (1)
On the basis of Article 14 TEU, the European Commission will conduct a strategic dialogue with the Euro­
pean Parliament prior to the programming of the Regulation (EU) No 233/2014 of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation for
the period 2014-2020 and after initial consultation of its relevant beneficiaries, where appropriate. The
European Commission will present to the European Parliament the relevant available documents on
programming with indicative allocations foreseen per country/region, and, within a country/region, priori­
ties, possible results and indicative allocations foreseen per priority for geographic programmes, as well as
the choice of assistance modalities (*). The European Commission will present to the European Parliament
the relevant available documents on programming with thematic priorities, possible results, choice of assis­
tance modalities (*), and financial allocations for such priorities foreseen in thematic programmes. The Euro­
pean Commission will take into account the position expressed by the European Parliament on the matter.
The European Commission will conduct a strategic dialogue with the European Parliament in preparing the
mid-term review and before any substantial revision of the programming documents during the period of
validity of this Regulation.
The European Commission, if invited by the European Parliament, will explain where the European Parlia­
ment's observations have been taken into consideration in the programming documents and any other
follow-up given to the strategic dialogue.
(1) The European Commission will be represented at the responsible Commissioner level
(*) Where applicable.
Declaration by the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European
Commission on point (ii) of point (b) of Article 5(2) of Regulation No 233/2014 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an instrument for development coop­
eration for the period 2014-2020
With regard to the application of point (ii) of point (b) of Article 5(2) Regulation No 233/2014 of the Euro­
pean Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an instrument for development coopera­
tion for the period 2014-2020 at the time of entry into force of that Regulation, the following partner
countries are considered eligible for bilateral cooperation, as exceptional cases, including in view of the
phasing out of development grant aid: Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and South Africa.
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Declaration by the European Commission on Article 5 of Regulation No 233/2014 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an instrument for development coop­
eration for the period 2014-2020
The European Commission will seek the views of the European Parliament before changing the application
of point (ii) of point (b) of Article 5(2) of Regulation No 233/2014 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an instrument for development cooperation for the period
2014-2020.
Declaration by the European Commission on allocation for basic services
The Regulation No 233/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing
an instrument for development cooperation for the period 2014-2020 should enable the Union to contri­
bute to fulfilling the joint Union commitment of providing continued support for human development to
improve people's lives in line with the Millennium Development Goals. At least 20 % of allocated assistance
under that Regulation will be allocated to basic social services, with a focus on health and education, and to
secondary education, recognising that a degree of flexibility must be the norm, such as cases where excep­
tional assistance is involved. Data concerning the respect of this declaration will be included in the annual
report referred to in Article 13 of the Regulation No 236/2014 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 11 March 2014 laying down common rules and procedures for the implementation of the
Union's instrument for financing external action.
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Statement by the European Parliament on the suspension of assistance granted under the financial
instruments
The European Parliament notes that Regulation (EU) No 233/2014 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation for the period
2014-2020, Regulation (EU) No 232/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March
2014 establishing a European Neighbourhood Instrument, Regulation (EU) No 234/2014 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a Partnership Instrument for cooperation with
third countries and Regulation (EU) No 231/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of
11 March 2014 establishing an Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II) do not contain any explicit
reference to the possibility of suspending assistance in cases where a beneficiary country fails to observe the
basic principles enunciated in the respective instrument and notably the principles of democracy, rule of law
and the respect for human rights.
The European Parliament considers that any suspension of assistance under these instruments would modify
the overall financial scheme agreed under the ordinary legislative procedure. As a co-legislator and co­
branch of the budgetary authority, the European Parliament is therefore entitled to fully exercise its preroga­
tives in that regard, if such a decision is to be taken.
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